On Monday, the Mavs also were missing starting center Chris Kaman (concussion) and top reserve Vince Carter (illness).

Their presence probably wouldn't have mattered the way OKC took care of the ball (11 turnovers) and excelled defensively.

The Thunder scored 23 points off 14 Mavs turnovers, including 17 points by intermission when OKC led 68-44, a season-high total for a half.

“You put these guys on the open floor with catastrophic turnovers, they're going to make you look bad,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said afterward. “I think that was it, more than anything.”

Marion led the Mavs with 23 points and shot 10 for 14 from the field. Take away Marion, and Dallas shot 26 for 73 (.356). Nowitzki, who missed the two previous games with a strained right thigh muscle, finished with 10 points and shot 3 for 11 from the floor.

“They had, like, 17 points on turnovers (in the first half), right?” Marion said. “That sewed up the game and then we're playing catch-up the rest of the way.”